The adult characters were reminiscent of old seadogs, although they were mainly old warders and old lags. Everyone seemed to have a criminal past, but then the whole adventure hinged on releasing a prisoner who promised them the secret of breaking the curse. well told, but not gripping

Clever, tense, beautifully written and extremely atmospheric, A Pinch of Magic is riveting, and simply fantastic. This is a captivating and exciting adventure, full of hope, which gets more and more enjoyable and interesting. The book left me on a high, and I’m hoping Michelle Harrison will write a second.

LoveReading4Kids Says

Will there be more adventures for the Widdershins sisters? (We hope so!) I hope so, too! I’ve given my publisher two ideas for my next book. One’s a Widdershins, the other is something new. Whatever happens, I don’t want it to be the end for the sisters. Desperate for an adventure, Betty plans a secret outing to neighbouring Marshfoot on her 13th birthday, but is furious when Granny stops her. Granny then breaks the devasting news that all Widdershins’ girls are trapped by an ancient curse and if they ever leave Crowstone, they will die by the following sunrise. She softens the blow by showing them three magical objects which have been passed down through generations: an old bag that transports the bearer wherever they wish to go, a mirror which shows the holder whatever they want to see, and a set of Russian dolls containing the power of invisibility. When Betty tries to use these objects to change their fate, she inadvertently puts her sisters in grave danger. Which of the three sisters, Fliss, Betty or Charlie, is most like you? Probably Charlie. I have a soft spot for animals and I’m usually thinking about my tummy, too! But there’s also a hint of Fliss. I’m a dreamer like her, and not very brave. I don’t have much in common with Betty except perhaps her nose for a mystery to be solved. A Pinch of Magic follows three Widdershins sisters - Fliss, Betty and Charlie - who are cursed to always live on Crowstone. If they go beyond, they will die by the next sunset. This is only the beginning of their incredible, magical adventure. It’s a race against time to save their lives and each other.

I really enjoyed this book and I did not want to put it down. It was absolutely thrilling - I felt as though I was in the story going on the adventures with the three sisters. A spellbinding middle grade fantasy about three sisters--adventurous Betty, curious Charlie, and proper Fliss--who go on a quest to break the curse that's haunted their family for generations. I found the art extra good - but wasn't very much into the story (MC being good at everything but overall quite bland - without much reason to save grandma's store but for hazy memories...) and the ending felt a bit rushed - on Kia's end at least.Three determined sisters are forbidden to leave their home. The youngest, Charlie, is unpredictable, caring and kind. Betty, the middle sister, is adventurous and daring. Fliss is thoughtful and kind.

Hello Yellow - 80 Books to Help Children Nurture Good Mental Health and Support With Anxiety and Wellbeing - I love the plot more than anything!! It can be dark and Harrison writes the most pitch-perfect atmospheric scenes I’ve ever read in ANY book, let alone middle grade. Everything is so vividly pictured with the language. The plot also takes turns I couldn’t have expected because I didn’t know how the sisters were going to come out victorious. I mean, this is a re-read so I did know haha, but when I first read this, it took me completely by surprise. This is a very well-written book, particularly the way in which Michelle Harrison describes the feelings and emotions of the three sisters - there is a fantastic atmosphere to the book. I haven’t read a book like it. What a glorious book this is! I was utterly captivated by the Widdershins sisters' Lisa Thompson, author of The Goldfish BoyI also really liked the world building. Set primarily on large island surrounded by three smaller ones (named Lament, Torment and Repent) it feels atmospheric and full of tension that lends itself well to the high stakes story. The world building is good, with plenty of descriptions to give colour to the island and help set the scene of a stormy and hostile environment. I also particularly liked the chapters dedicated to Sorcha's story and the clever way it was interwoven into the current storyline that made it feel more like a magical fairytale. Books about journeys are my favourite sort of book - but A Pinch of Magic is different, in that the sisters want to leave the islands for an adventure of their own, but they are trapped by a curse. But the curse isn’t the only unusual thing about the Widdershins. Each of them possesses a magical object that’s been passed down the family. A scruffy carpet bag, a set of wooden nesting dolls and a gilt-framed mirror . . . none of them is what they seem.